Murray rallies to beat Berdych in World Tour Finals

5 Nov 2012

10h44

updated at 13h30

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U.S. Open champion
Andy Murray
recovered from a faltering start to beat
Tomas Berdych
in his first match on home soil since winning his
maiden grand slam title
as the
ATP World Tour Finals
began in London's Docklands on Monday.

Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates a point during the men's singles match against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic on day one of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena on November 5, 2012 in London, England.

Photo: Getty Images

Murray, the
world number three
, was greeted on court at the cavernous O2 Arena like a returning hero, but the atmosphere was subdued as Berdych took the first set before the Scot turned things round to win 3-6 6-3 6-4 in the opening Group A clash.

World number one
Novak Djokovic
, the man Murray conquered to win his
first grand slam title
less than two months ago in New York, opens against
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
later on Monday.

Murray's inability to convert the numerous break points he engineered almost cost him against Czech Berdych.

The
Olympic champion
was 15-40 ahead on Berdych's serve in the opening game and was 0-40 up in fifth game but was frustrated as Berdych produced some brutal attacking tennis to stay on terms.

The first set then swung Berdych's way with a spurt of 13 points out of 15, including a crucial service break in the sixth game when a Murray yanked a forehand low into the net.

Berdych had to save another break point as he served for the first set at 5-3 but again Murray could not convert his chance and Berdych sealed the opener when a Murray forehand flicked the net tape and sailed long.

Murray saved two break points at 1-1 in the second set and finally achieved a service break, at the 11th attempt, in the following game despite Berdych again battling back from 0-40.

That proved the turning point as Murray, with the 20,000 crowd finally coming to life, fired himself up and began to
dominate the baseline exchanges
.

After leveling the match he gained a decisive break of serve in the third game of the decider against a becalmed Berdych and held on for victory, only his fourth in eight matches against Berdych, sealing it when his opponent slapped a backhand into the net.

Defending champion
Roger Federer
begins on Tuesday against world number nine
Janko Tipsarevic
, who qualified for the eight-man finale in the
absence of the injured Rafael Nadal
.

Murray rallies past Berdych at World Tour Finals

10 photos

Andy Murray of Britain walks onto court to play Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in their men's singles tennis match at the ATP World Tour Finals in the O2 Arena in London November 5, 2012.

Photo: KIERAN DOHERTY / REUTERS

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